GOOD TEMPADS’ TEA AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 124, 28 May 1880, Page 3

GOOD TEMPADS’ TEA AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Tins toa ami entertainment in connexion with the Aggressive (lilculicini) Iso. (>. took placo in the (rood Templars’ Hall, drove Road, on Monday last, being the Queen's Birthday. Despite the miserable weather, there Was a large attendance. Tables were supplied by Mesdamcs .lollyman, Ching, Carvel, Danes, the Misses Fryer, and by Mrs Kellor and Miss Daikee, tiie display'of good things being most alluring. Later in the evening the entertainment was proceeded with, the Hall bein"- crowded in every part. District Deputy Bro. W. B. ICarll, on being called to tlic chair, in his opening remarks directed the attention of those present to the advanced appearance of the Hall, and called upon the Choir to render the National Anthem in honor of lie day they were met to celebrate. r i bis luiviiig been done the programme of the evening was commenced by a. recitation, W want recruits to night, 1 ’ given by Miss Caivel, after which the Choir gave “ I’haroali s Army.” The. Rev. Mr Shirriffs then rose, and m addressing the assemblage expressed bis pleasure at seeing such a large number present, and trusted that such was an evidence of the popularity of the Temperance cause and that the result would be a great addition to the number of members. It was said in the Old Book line upon line, and precept upon precept, that the thing most needed was was a decided determination to act u]i to the principles and belief in total abstinence. On due enquiry, many would be found on the side of Temperance. Society itself would almost go the length of admitting that no good or reliable argument could be. adduced in favor of strong drink ; vet still day after day wc sec the evil continued. What was required was more consistency of action, and if strong drink was thought an evil tiling, then to have done with"it for ever. All influences should lie enlisted against such a gigantic evil. If an epidemic were to break out in our midst all possible preventive measures would be adopted to arrest its effect, yet as a fact strong drink, carried off more victims than any epidemic. All should endeavor to stem'the cm rent, and make up tlicir minds to use all their influence to do away with the drinking customs of society. He had observed by the newspaper reports that a new licensing measure was about to be introduced by the Government at the ensuing session of Parliament, such a measure being based upon the principle of the Permissive Bill, so far as the new licenses were concerned. He thought, that -the Government deserved the best thanks of the community for their action in this respect, and that such a measure might reasonably bo expected to become law, especially as it did not propose to interfere with vested interests as conferred by old licenses ; thus the difficult question of compensation would be avoided. Besides this, in such legislation it was not sought to obtain powers of abolition or prohibition ; these matters must follow and they must begin at the bottom of the ladder and climb up? Ho (the speaker) was of opinion that the whole question of licensingpublichouses seemed to lie in the hands of the people, as being those chiefly concerned in the effects of the houses sought to ho established, and he thought that the voice of the people should be heard by means of petition, and that combined legitimate action should. !> taken and every endeavor made to ai d the movement. Recitation —“ Found Dead.’ Brother Chuck. Chorus —“ Steal Away.”—Choir.

Recitation —“ iho Little \ ulgar Boy. Bro. Ching. The Rev. Bro. Carr expressed his pleasure iu seeing so many present, and held it as a proof of their interest in the object. ' which lie supported. He referred to the preponderance of what lie might term the lady element among the audiences. It wits true that often through the effects of drink they were the greatest sufferers : they were at all times the greatest workers, and pad the most influence and power for good. He would like to see them do nobly in the matter of the proposed Licensing Act. It was true that a man is what a woman makes him, and in proof of this lie would refer to a now celebrated painter, who by the assistance of his wife’s economy and forethought, subsequently attained to eminence. Woman's influence, if used, would tend very much to the success of the cause they were there to promote. He had been thinking of the cause or origin of Good Templarism; one of its objects was to clear away the obstacles that hinder moral and spiritual progress. This was their mission, so as to establish a right principle an a firm basis. As probably they were aware, Good Templarism originated in America, and one Joseph Merlins, a native of Birmingham, England, being in America, sought for and obtained the large powers necessary to establish the Order in Great Britain. The result of his labors was that in two years, 15,000 individuals enrolled themselves in England. These were not teetotallers nor temperance men, butwhat might be termed outsiders entirely. Roberts and Walker, in Scotland, too, carried on the war, and promulgated the doctrines, with the result : that in the same time 50,000 were enrolled, i In Ireland, as well, the crusade was preach I ed. and there, 10,000 in.the same time were gathered to the cause ; so that the grand result of the efforts of Malinsj end his coadjutors, was that a grand total of 55,000 adherents to the cause were enrolled. He was of opinion that the principle.? he a.ul his fellow workers advocated, should be caried to the work bench, to our friends, 1 and to all whom we should be able to exert our influence with. They themselves would freely admit that if a man became an adherent of any Order, or member of any Society, he must necessarily endorse its principles and course of action, and any person who takes such an obligation as this of necessity would not rest inbeing in name only a member ; so Good Templars should not rest as being such only in name, not if they believe in the soundness of Good Templary, and that it is real and true, they should try all legitimate means, to expound and support them. He knew that thejrc were what he might term other delicacies on the programme about to he submitted, and he, thought it would be iu.better part if b e made way for them rather than; trouble them with liis speech,

Hymn Chorus-''My Lord what a Morning. ’’—Choir. , Bro. Vercoe would like to say a few words. He was of opinion that the cause demanded more energy and consistency in labor, and for this reason —that the path oi duty is always the path of safety. . J.hc parents of families should showby their example and earnest efforts in work that they are Templars, especially as the young people were committed to their charge, and for whom they were responsible. If the ravages of drink were actually known to us, we should not look upon them as lightly as we do, hut unfortunately its effects are so common that we almost become accustomed to them. All should he abstainers, and should be guided by those who have seen, felt, and known quite enough of the other aide. We ourselves, he contended, haveno right to transmit to posterity a system such as the drink system, which lias ruined millions. . ‘•The Skaters ’’-Choir. Rejit&tion—" The Two Glasses ’Master Flute Solo—“ Life Lot Us Cherish Bro. James. , „ , ~ _ Song—“My Grandfathers Clock, Bro. W. James. . Reading—" Tho German Jew and the Sailor.” —Bro. Watson. , , Recitation-" The Little Knowing Boy Bro. Ching. , „ Song-" The Man of Many Names, Bro, James. Bro, Jellyman said he had been a temperance man for 8 years, and was proud of it. He could tell them of the benefits he had received from it, and referred to the early struggles of the Lodge, when they were forced to migrate from the old Lyceum Hall to the Post Office, and congratulated the upon the strong and firm hold that Good Tcmplary was securing in Blenheim. He was under the impression that the moderate drinker was of ccjual —if not more—harm to the community than the actual di'ii.il.ard, and proceeded to illustrate this bv stating a fact that was within his own knowledge, Drunkenness, he maintained, w;i ; = ;j:)t a habit formed at once, but little by little. He deprecated moderate drinkiug, a-1 urged those who were not then Good . : Tf, to cast their lot in with him and . U il'iw workers. He would take leave ..t 20 members had been initiated ’• Ui- iluring the past quarter, and • . ht the number in thisquarter would ••jeil that. .... My Grandfather’s Cat,”—Bro.

—“Goneaway with a handsomer man,” —Bro. Chinn. My Grandmother’s Clock,” Bro.

.James. , Lancashire Dialect Reading—Bro. W. James. . Song and Chorus— i< Some Folks.” Choir. The Chairman having announced that this closed the programme, briefly addressed those present, showing the advantage of temperance, and urged those present to join the Order. He stated that in the South Island alone they numbered 14,000 or 15,000, and that tiie Government recognised them as a body as they do other Societies, and knew that they were a power in the State. Marlborough Town, Tua Marina, and Picton, were each requiring lodges to be established.

Bro. Girling in a humorous speech proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentle men of the Choir, who had given them such capital music that evening, as also a special vote of thanks to those ladies who had pro. vided the tea.

The Choir having rendered “ Our Native Land,” the asso nblage dispersed well pleas* 0(1 with tho evening’s entertaiment.